In a world where cookie-cutter living is the norm, forging your own path can be a frightening endeavour. This is true for both introverts and extroverts. The good news for introverts is that we have a few distinct advantages when it comes to finding our truth path and purpose in life.
1. Introspection
“Your purpose is often connected to an inner wound of some kind. Those places of hurt and shame can be valuable clues to who you are and what you’re meant to do.” Justine Musk
Finding your purpose is an intuitive process that requires a lot of introspection. This is something that introverts are naturally inclined to do. Taking on the sometimes painful task of looking inward helps us to discover what we are meant to do, who we are meant to be.
2. Creative Play
“No matter what your age or your life path … it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity.” Julia Cameron
Many introverts are imaginative and highly creative. We love to fantasize, dream and churn ideas in our ever active mind. This is good news for introverts who want to find their soul’s purpose. Creative play is the key to discovering our true path. Exercising creativity allows us to experiment and make connections, while getting in touch with our inner essence.
3. Observers
I’ve talked before about how introverts tend to be fringe-dwellers who observe society from a distance. Although this can be painful at times, it is also incredibly beneficial. Being on the outside looking in allows us to see the world from a unique perspective. As Stephen Chbosky put it:
“You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.” ~ The Perks of Being a Wallflower
If we embrace the benefits of being an outlier, we are more likely to resist being trapped by dogma. Steve Jobs was adamant that avoiding dogma and following your own intuition is the key to finding your true path.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
So, if you’re an introvert who is searching for your life’s purpose, know that you are already a few steps ahead of the pack. Don’t give up. Throw everything at it if that’s what it takes. You must get to the point where you won’t accept any other outcome than the discovery of your calling NO MATTER WHAT. That is when the magic happens. Or at least that is how it happened for me.
Where are you on your journey toward’s your life’s purpose? Still searching? What say you dearest Internet friend?? I’d love to hear from you.
Xo,
Beautiful words, Michaela! I think this describes the introvert’s dilemma perfectly; because we sometimes see things at a deeper level, from the outside looking in, we realize that we need to take a different path to be happy.
This is my story. After working in a “normal” career for the better part of a decade, I finally realized that I was playing a game I couldn’t win, and needed to go my own way. Ultimately, I think that was the key to deciding to work for myself, because I realized that there was no future in pretending to be a part of the extrovert world, so I needed to discover a new set of rules to live by. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but the results are so rewarding if we stick with our goals and make it through to the other side. I think I’m half-way there but past the point of no return, things look way brighter on the other side 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience, Phillip. “Past the point of no return” is where all the magic happens.” 😉
When I was a kid I was part of the crowd that was watching a fight between two other kids. But I wasn’t watching the fight … I was watching how the crowd was reacting to the fight. I noticed how they lost themselves, intoxicated by the frenzy of emotions … they set their minds free of thought and truly became one with the crowd. As an introvert, I felt very odd since I was not part of the frenzy. I just felt repulsed by it.
I like that you mentioned Steve Jobs (used to be a Mac Tech so I’m biased). There was a commercial in the 90’s called the Crazy Ones. I always identified with that commercial. It always gave me inspiration. It told me that the crazy ones were not really the crazy ones but the people who like fear, chaos, and injustice in the face and said ” I don’t have to think this way” and proceeded in setting society in the right direction. I wonder how many time in history an introvert has steered society in the right direction?
Here is the link to that Apple Ad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjgtLSHhTPg&feature=kp
I just watched the ad, Michael. I loved it! I’m definitely a “crazy one” and sounds like you are, too. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I hope my path still has a few twists. Until just last week when I googled “imprisonment of introversion” and stumbled on your website, I thought being an introvert was something I’d one day grow out of…..that it was a handicap. I knew when I was quite young that I was an outlier and that my mind was way more active than my mouth, but it didn’t seem to have any advantages. My mind has tended to “worry”, where negatives have dominated my thought life rather than positives…or weaknesses instead of strengths, if you like. This was creating what I called a dark cloud over my head or a wall in front of me that every day I had to climb over, to get on with my life. With this mindset it’s difficult to love yourself but I have to thank you for one more reason not to avoid being me. Life is a process and even after 60 some years, I’m grateful to be still growing. I WANT TO BE ME and LOVE IT! Thank you again.
You’re very welcome, Norma! I love hearing all the strange and magical ways that people stumble upon my website. A commitment to continuous growth in life is a wonderful quality to have. Glad to hear that this website is helping you on that journey. 🙂
Love this site thank you. I never felt I ever fitted in. Pretended to because that was what society like years ago and still is. I always felt separated and looked at people and could read them like book but never really understood what I was sensing at the time. I never really clicked with people. I thought there was something wrong with me because I didn’t like most things others did. I liked to be quiet and I was creative. A very deep thinker. I loved writing poetry. Most loved partying and I loathed it. I have struggled to find my place. Years later I’m still struggling to find my place and what to do but I’m slowly putting the pieces together.
Thanks God. He has given the real message to me through you. I am feeling now happy that I am in the track in pursuit of my real goal.